Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle dates back to about 1066 and the Norman invasion of England.  

 

 

 

 

It has plenty of history to enjoy, including arrow slits, oubliette dungeons and soaring walls,

 

 

 

 

medieval warfare equipment for children to try out 

 

 

 

 

and also a 1,000 year old murder mystery – who killed King Edward?

 

 

 

 

 

Swanage Railway

Corfe Castle sits next to the Swanage Railway line and you can see the trains steam past.

 

 

 

This full-size heritage railway operates a range of steam and diesel locomotives, as well as historic carriages.

 

Nearest Town: Corfe Castle, near Wareham
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: BH20 5EZ

Adult Cost Range: Free with National Trust membership. Various prices for non-members. Please see their website for details. 
Child Cost Range: Free with National Trust membership. Various prices for non-members. Please see their website for details. 
Free if: Under 5 years or with National Trust membership.

Opens: Various times throughout the year. Please see their website for details.

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic, try the cafe or one eat at one of the nearby pubs.
Facilities: Cafe, shop, snacks, ice cream, picnic area, toilets and accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour.
Buggies: Some of the castle is buggy-friendly but there are also slopes, steps and narrow walkways in some areas.  

Parking: There are a few car parks to choose from, including a National Trust car park, as well as a few parking spaces in the village.
Cost of Parking: Varies depending on the car park you choose. The National Trust car park is free for members.  

Information Written: June 2022

 

Swanage Railway

This full-size heritage railway operates a range of steam and diesel locomotives, as well as historic carriages

 

 

 

 

that huff and puff you through old stations

 

 

 

 

 

 

and railway memorabilia

 

 

 

 

 

 

to Swanage and the seafront and Corfe Castle. 

 

 

 

 

 

Devon Belle Observation Car

One of the historic carriages is the Devon Belle or Pullman Observation Car No. 14.

 

 

 

This has been used as an ambulance to transport wounded WW1 soldiers,

 

 

 

 

as a holiday observation car and also to tour the USA with the Flying Scotsman!  

 

 

 

 

The views from the Devon Belle are much better than the normal carriage. 

It currently costs an extra £3.50 per person.

 

 

 

The Railway Route

The steam trains puff along the 5.5 mile line between the stations at Norden 

 

 

 

Corfe Castle

 

 

 

 

Harmans Cross and Herston Halt

 

 

 

 

and Swanage. 

 

 

 

 

 

Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle sits next to the railway line. You can choose to steam on past or break your journey at Corfe Castle station, taking the short walk to the village and castle. 

 

 

 

Norden Station Play Area

The Sidings Play Area at Norden Station is themed on Swanage Railway and Corfe Castle and has equipment to climb on and explore. 

Nearest Town: Norden, Corfe Castle, Harmans Cross or Swanage, all near Wareham
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: BH20 5DW

Adult Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details. 
Child Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details. 
Free if: Under 5 years

Opens: Various times throughout the year. Please see their website for details.

Where to Eat: Norden station, Corfe Castle station and Swanage station have cafes or you can bring a picnic.
Facilities: Various, depending on which station you are at. Please see their website for details.

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour exploring Norden station and the play area.  Norden to Swanage is about a 25 minute train ride, one way.
Buggies: You can’t take buggies on the train but they can go into the Guard’s Van. 

Parking: Large car park.
Cost of Parking: £4 per day. 

Information Written: June 2022

 

Longleat can be divided into two main areas – the Safari and the Main Square.

 

The Safari 

This has an African Village to explore on foot and a Safari Drive-Through to explore from a vehicle – either your own or the Longleat bus.

 

 

 

 

Safari On Foot – The African Village

Here you can see lemurs, wallabies and tortoises

 

 

 

 

zebra, warthogs and goats and hand feed giraffes.  

 

 

 

 

 

Safari By Car – The Drive-Through

The Drive-Through has a commentary app, which is a fab idea that turns your drive into a live action, Kate Humble guided documentary.

 

 

 

East African Reserve

In the first section you can see ostriches, giraffes and tapirs

 

 

 

 

 

 

zebra, flamingos, pelicans and vultures. 

 

 

 

 

Monkeys

Next up are the monkeys.  Signs warn that the monkeys may damage your car.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the gates open, Kate Humble chirps, “You have been warned…”.

 

 

 

 

The monkeys maraud along the lines of cars. We have seen them take cars apart.

 

 

 

 

You can choose to skip this enclosure if you like. 

 

 

 

 

 

Big Game Park

This has animals including Anne the elephant

 

 

 

 

a caravan of camels, a herd of Ankole cattle with horns of up to 2m long

 

 

 

 

a crash of rhinos and the Deer Park, where you can feed deer from your car.

 

 

 

 

The Carnivores

When we visited the big carnivore enclosures – tigers, lions, cheetahs and wolves – the tension from the back seat was palpable. 

 

 

 

The Main Square

The second part of Longleat is the Main Square, which has the house, cafes and refreshments and more animals. 

 

 

 

 

The Bat Cave

This is a bat roost and the bats fly freely around your head. 

 

 

 

 

 

Jungle Cruise

On the Jungle Cruise, you take a large boat that wouldn’t have been out of place in The African Queen – a sort of jungle steamer. 

We sailed past gorillas, colobus monkeys, lots of birds

 

 

and two hippos, who were being used as an island by some cheeky ducks.

 

 

 

 

But our favourite part of the cruise is feeding the sea lions.

They splash around the boat and make a lot of noise, jumping up out of the water to catch the fish you throw them (which you must buy).

 

 

Animal Adventure

This is home to animals like meerkats, anteaters and porcupines

 

 

 

 

binturong, fennec fox and a sloth

 

 

 

 

lorikeets you can hand feed

 

 

 

 

 

crocodiles, giant otters and koalas.

 

 

 

 

 

There is also a farmyard with animals including reindeer, wallabies and goats. 

 

 

 

 

Adventure Castle Play Area

Adventure Castle is a fantastic, castle-themed adventure play area. 

 

 

 

 

The play area’s centrepiece is a huge wooden castle with ramparts, walkways, nets and slides galore.

There is also an indoor soft play area for small children.

 

 

 

It has almost everything you can imagine for children of all ages – huge slides, climbing frames, swings and an obstacle course.

 

 

 

The Splash Pad

Jets of water activate when you press discs in the floor – some sprayed up, some sprayed down and some formed tunnels to run through.

The perfect end to an adventure-filled day.

Nearest Town: Warminster
County: Wiltshire
Nearest Postcode: BA12 7NW

Adult Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details.
Child Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details.
Free if: Under 3

Opens: Daily during the summer but with seasonal closures.

Where to Eat: There are various cafes and you can bring a picnic.
Facilities: Snacks, ice cream, cafes, picnic areas, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: A full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: Large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free.

Wildlife You Might See: Zoo and safari park animals, including zebra, giraffes, camels, vultures, monkeys, an elephant, rhinos, deer, lions, tigers, cheetahs, wolves, insects and spiders, hippos, seals, gorillas, bats, anteaters, giant otters, meerkats and wallabies.

Information Written: July 2017
Information Checked: January 2024

 

Adventure Castle

The play area’s centrepiece is a huge wooden castle with ramparts, walkways, nets, and slides galore.

 

 

 

I am not going to list out all of its equipment because it had almost everything you can imagine for children of all ages.

 

 

 

There is also an indoor soft play area for small children.

 

The Splash Pad

The splash pad’s jets of water activate when you press discs in the floor – some sprayed up, some sprayed down, some formed tunnels to run around.

Nearest Town: Warminster
County: Wiltshire
Nearest Postcode: BA12 7NW

Adult Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details.
Child Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details.
Free if: Under 3

Opens: Daily during the summer but with seasonal closures.

Where to Eat: There are various cafes and you can bring a picnic.
Facilities: Cafes, picnic areas, snacks, ice cream, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: A full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: Large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free.

Wildlife You Might See: Zoo and safari park animals, including zebra, giraffes, camels, vultures, monkeys, an elephant, rhinos, deer, lions, tigers, cheetahs, wolves, insects, hippos, seals, gorillas, bats, anteaters, otters, meerkats and wallabies.

Information Written: July 2017
Information Checked: January 2024

 

The Play Area

This has a mixture of natural play equipment and adventure play equipment that includes:

• a large tube slide with a covered rope bridge and long ladders that are broken into sections by wooden platforms
• a wooden climbing frame with nets
• tree stump obstacle courses
• stones to climb on
• a sandy area with sand play equipment
• a wide slide with a ladder
• a spinning disc
• spinning cups
• three tyre swings 
• a small castle tower with a ladder 
• a swinging basket
• swings
• a zip wire.

 

We could not find any toddler swings.

 

In the play area there is also a little pond that children paddle in.

 

 

 

The Cafe

Cafe Hogmoor is next to the play area and the car park and sells snacks and refreshments. 

 

 

 

 

The Bee Hive

Between the Hogmoor Cafe and the car park is a little building called the Bee Hive. Next to it are:

• musical instruments
• a scavenger hunt
• a brass rubbing area. 

 

 

The Trails

There are a few marked trails to try that lead you past different features, including gates, activity boards and the Sentinels.

 

Nearest Town: Bordon
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU35 9HN

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at the Cafe Hogmoor. 
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice cream, picnic area, toilets, and accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Some paths are uneven and others are sandy. 

Parking: There is a car park next to the Inclosure’s entrance (GU35 9HN). It can be busy.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Birds, butterflies, dragonflies and insects.

Information Written: October 2021
Information Checked: April 2023

 

The Sentinels

The Sentinels are wooden sculptures and there are a few along each of the marked trails.

Their locations are shown on the maps by the car park, which you can photo before you set off.

 

 

The Trails

There are a few marked trails to try that lead you past different features, including gates, activity boards and the Sentinels.

 

 

 

The paths are sandy and lower than the surrounding trees.

There are lots of little hills for you to run up and explore in parallel to the paths. 

 

 

 

The Cafe

Cafe Hogmoor is next to the play area and the car park and sells snacks and refreshments. 

 

 

 

 

The Bee Hive

Between the Hogmoor Cafe and the car park is a little building called the Bee Hive. Next to it are:

• musical instruments
• a scavenger hunt
• a brass rubbing area. 

 

The Play Area

The Hogmoor Inclosure Natural Play Area has a mixture of natural play equipment and adventure play equipment that includes:

• a large tube slide with a covered rope bridge and long ladders that are broken into sections by wooden platforms
• a wooden climbing frame with nets
• tree stump obstacle courses
• stones to climb on
• a sandy area with sand play equipment
• a wide slide with a ladder
• a spinning disc
• spinning cups
• three tyre swings 
• a small castle tower with a ladder 
• a swinging basket
• swings
• a zip wire.

 

We could not find any toddler swings.

 

In the play area there is also a little pond that children paddle in.

 

Nearest Town: Bordon
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU35 9HN

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at the Cafe Hogmoor. 
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice cream, picnic area, toilets, and accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Some paths are uneven and others are sandy. 

Parking: There is a car park next to the Inclosure’s entrance (GU35 9HN). It can be busy.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Birds, butterflies, dragonflies and insects.

Information Written: October 2021
Information Checked: April 2023

 

Your Mission…

Can you creep through the tunnel without waking the fox and badger, who have both fallen asleep on guard duty?

 

 

 

What’s the best way to run the gauntlet and escape the clutches of the giant jumping spider?

 

 

 

 

How quickly can you scale the eagle’s tower?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is it possible to defend the swamp fortress at each of its many entry points?

 

 

 

 

The Adventure Play Area

Little ones will probably need some help with the equipment, which is for children to the age of 14 years old and includes:

• swings
• toddler swings
• a basket swing
• slides
• a seesaw
• a zip wire
• a tunnel in the hillside
• a spider and web to climb on
• a fort with rope bridges, climbing walls, ladders and nets
• an obstacle course
• a wobbly bridge
• a trim trail with bars, ropes and beams
• a picnic table
• seats.

 

A Surprise Second Play Area

Farnham Park also has another play area called Farnham Park St James Play Area, which is a more traditional play area aimed at younger children.

It is about a ten to fifteen minute walk from the adventure play area.

 

 

Farnham Park Itself

Farnham Park is a 320 acre medieval deer park with a rural feel.

 

 

 

 

It’s a beautiful spot to go for a walk across rolling fields, through wooded areas and over hills with views.

 

 

 

 

We found plenty of places to play hide and seek, find secret dens and hunt for mini-beasts.

 

 

 

 

Paddling and Ponds

There are also some small streams you can paddle in and some wild ponds.

You can find a map of Farnham Park on the local council’s website.

Nearest Town: Farnham
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU9 0AU

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Picnic tables and a cafe. 
Facilities: Toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 2.5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly. The main paths are well surfaced and there are smaller paths over the grassy fields.

Parking: There are two car parks both of which are on Folly Hill – the main car park is near Farnham Castle (GU9 0AU) and the second, smaller car park is called Farnham Park Rangers Car Park and is a little further up Folly Hill (with Farnham and Farnham Castle behind you) and on the right. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks and other birds, butterflies and other insects.

Information Written: June 2017
Information Checked: February 2023

 

Hurst Spit

Hurst Spit separates the sea and the Lymington River Estuary.  

 

 

 

 

To one side it has mudflats and salt marshes.  

 

 

 

 

To the other it has the sea and views to the Isle of Wight and the Needles. 

 

 

 

 

Swimming or using inflatables in the sea here is not recommended as the currents are very strong.

 

 

 

 

Walking to Hurst Castle

The walk to the castle is about two miles and is part of the Solent Way.

It is not the easiest of walks.  Sturdy footwear is recommended and it is hard going with a buggy.

 

 

You can pick up the path to Hurst Spit and Hurst Castle from Keyhaven Car Park – just head for the Hurst Castle Ferry and then keep walking.  

 

 

 

Sailing to Hurst Castle

If you would like to visit Hurst Castle but don’t fancy the walk or have little ones with you, then consider the Hurst Castle ferry.  

 

 

 

It is a beautiful 20 minute ferry ride through salt marshes, mud flats and moored boats. 

 

 

 

 

Hurst Castle

Hurst Castle is an artillery fort that was built in the 16th century by Henry VIII to protect the Solent, Southampton and Portsmouth.

 

 

 

It is one of the best preserved of Henry VIII’s castles and had an active military role until the mid-20th century.

 

Nearest Town: Lymington, New Forest
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO41 0TP takes you to Keyhaven Car Park and if you keep driving, Hurst Spit. 

Opens: Daily

Adult Cost Range: Hurst Spit is free but there are various costs for castle entry – please see the websites for details.
Child Cost Range: Hurst Spit is free but there are various costs for castle entry – please see the websites for details.
Free if: Hurst Spit is free. Children under 5 years enter the castle for free.

Where to Eat: Eat at the Hurst Castle cafe or bring a picnic.
Facilities: There are toilets and accessible toilets inside Hurt Castle. There are no toilets available for people not visiting the castle. There is a cafe outside the castle that is available to all visitors.

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: Not buggy friendly. 

Parking: Pay and display car park at Keyhaven. 
Cost of Parking: From £3 for two hours.

Wildlife You Might See: Fish, crabs, seabirds and sea creatures.

Information Written: January 2023

 

Hurst Castle

The castle is strategically placed at the end of Hurst Spit, halfway between the mainland and the Isle of Wight. It can only be reached by a little ferry or on foot. 

 

 

 

The castle is a coastal fort so it does not look like a traditional castle. It is low to the ground to make the smallest possible target for enemy ships,

 

 

 

and has thick walls to withstand bombardment.

 

 

 

 

Inside the walls is a labyrinth of passageways, stairs

 

 

 

 

and some enormous guns on display.

 

 

 

 

 

There are also some beautiful views from the ramparts.

 

 

 

 

 

The Ferry – Sailing to Hurst Castle

Our favourite part of the trip was the beautiful twenty minute ferry ride on a boat that takes you past salt marshes, mud flats and moored boats.

 

 

 

The ferries were running every 20 to 30 minutes when we visited. 

 

 

 

 

 

Hurst Spit – Walking to Hurst Castle

You can walk to the castle along Hurst Spit, which is about a two mile walk along the sea. This walk is part of the Solent Way.

 

 

 

Hurst Spit is a shingle bank that juts into The Solent, linking Keyhaven and Hurst Castle. It separates the sea from the Lymington River Estuary. 

 

 

 

As this walk takes you over shingle, sturdy footwear is recommended. It is hard going with a buggy.

Swimming or using inflatables in the sea here is not recommended as the currents are very strong.

 

 

You can pick up the path to Hurst Spit and Hurst Castle from Keyhaven Car Park – just head for the Hurst Castle Ferry and then keep walking.  

 

Nearest Town: Lymington, New Forest
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO41 0TP

Opens: There are various opening times depending on the time of year. Please see the websites for details.

Adult Cost Range: Various costs for the ferry and for castle entry – please see the websites for details.
Child Cost Range: Various costs for the ferry and for castle entry – please see the websites for details.
Free if: Under 3 years for the ferry. Under 5 years for the castle.

Where to Eat: Eat at the cafe or bring a picnic.
Facilities: There are toilets and accessible toilets inside Hurt Castle. There are no toilets available for people not visiting the castle. There is a cafe outside the castle that is available to all visitors.

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: Not buggy friendly but you could bring a buggy if you were prepared to leave it somewhere as you explore the castle, which has lots of steps. I wouldn’t take a buggy onto Hurst Spit as it would be too hard to push. 

Parking: Pay and display car park at Keyhaven. 
Cost of Parking: From £3 for two hours.

Wildlife You Might See: Fish, crabs, seabirds and sea creatures.

Information Written: June 2020
Information Checked: July 2022

 

There are two play areas next to the Visitor Centre, which are divided into the Adventure Area, which is for older children, and the Castle and Sandworks area, which is for younger children.

 

The Adventure Area

This has:

• a large slide with a climbing wall
• a climbing wall
• a climbing boulder
• a zip wire
• a basket swing
• a large rope climbing frame
• a huge wooden fortress with a long tube slide, tunnels and rope bridges
• rope swings.

 

The Castle and Sandworks

The equipment here includes:

• a multi-play with a slide and easy to climb steps
• another slide
• a large multi-play shaped like a house with a slide, fireman’s pole, climbing wall and ropes to climb on
• toddler swings made of ropes
• a wooden train
• mechanical diggers you can operate
• wooden animals
• an obstacle course
• springers
• spinners
• sand construction areas with buckets, chutes and pulleys.

 

The Play Trail

The fantastical Play Trail at Moors Valley Country Park guides you through the woods to a Tree Top Trail and 9 hidden play areas, including the Enchanted Forest, Snake Pit and Hawk House.

 

 

 

The Miniature Railway

The Moors Valley Railway rumbles through the park (with seasonal opening hours). This is a miniature railway that connects Lakeside and Kingsmere stations.

 

 

 

Everything Else!

Moors Valley is packed full of adventures – trails to try, trees to climb and games to play. 

 

Nearest Town: Ringwood
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: BH24 2ET

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat in the Visitor Centre cafe.
Facilities: Toilets, accessible toilets, ice creams, snacks, cafe, picnic areas.

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly. Note that this is not wide enough for a buggy but there is a path that allows you to skip past it.

Parking: Large car park but it is very busy at peak times.
Cost of Parking: Various charges, from between £1.80 per hour.  Please see their website for full details.

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, swans, birds and insects.

Information Written: April 2017
Information Checked: October 2022